My feet are moving in an instant. I barely hear Connor yell as I swing the door of the locker room open. “She just left the rink!”
I sprint out of the locker room and nearly take downJefferson and Mack and in the process. I catch my footing and run as fast as I can to the exit. If she’s not here maybe there’s still time.
“Go get her, man!” Mack’s voice urges me on faster, and I’m out the door to the parking lot in seconds.
It’s raining so hard I can barely see in front of me. Once I get inside my SUV, I push the button to start it. Clicking my seat belt into place, I peel out of the parking lot and turn onto the road that takes me to my house.
The rain is making it hard to drive, and I have to drive five miles under the speed limit to ensure I make it back home in one piece. It’s taking too fucking long to get home.
I’m already a couple miles out from my house when I realize I probably should’ve headed straight to the airport. Even if she wasn’t there yet, I could’ve waited for her instead of wasting time and checking at home first.
Finally, I turn down my street, the rain picking up so much speed that I can’t see two feet in front of me. Once I make it to the end of my road and turn into my driveway I press the button to open the garage, and relief washes over me.
Sadie’s Subaru is parked in the garage. She’s still here.
I don’t even wait for the garage to finish opening before I put my SUV in park and sprint out into the storm. I’m moving so fast there’s no time to close the car door behind me. The front door is closest at this point so I run as fast as I can and enter the code to unlock it.
I’m screaming her name the moment I make it into the house.
“Sadie! Sadie, are you here?”
Silence.
I check every room on the lower level while still screaming her name. With no luck, I move to the garage and run to check her apartment, which in hindsight, is probably where I should’ve started in the first place.
I bang on her door, and when she doesn’t answer, I use my spare key to enter.
The space is empty—all signs of Sadie are gone.
She’s not here.
Out of breath, I run my fingers through my hair and tug on the ends. “Fuck!”
Of course she’s not here. I told her to fucking go. After everything she’s been through, after everyone in her life has always told her she’s not enough, I let her fucking go. I fucking made her think she wasn’t good enough.
Turning around, I leave Sadie’s apartment and head back into my house. I’m on my way to my fully stocked bar when something catches my eye on the kitchen island. I change directions and grab the paper off the counter.
It’s a note from Sadie. My breath catches in my chest and tears well in my eyes as I read her words.
Niko,
I wish I was there with you saying this to your face, but I don’t think I could’ve gotten through it without breaking down. So this note will have to do.
Thank you for embracing every single part of me and seeing me for who I really am. I think you told me to go because you don’t want to hold me back from everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s just like you to put everyone else’s needs before your own. I just wish you realized that you and Sophia are the things I’ve wanted my whole life. But I don’t want to be somewhere I’m not wanted. I know I’ve never said these words out loud but I need you to know...I love you. With every single piece of my heart. Please give Sophia anotherkiss goodbye for me.
Xoxo,
Sadie
PS. I would’ve stayed if you asked me to.
Tears are streaming down my face as I read the last line of her letter.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I look over at the oven. It’s only seven o’clock. It’ll be close, especially in this fucking weather, but I might be able to catch her before her flight takes off.
Taking the note with me, I run as fast as my feet will go to the front door. My adrenaline is pumping and as soon as I throw the door open, my heart stops.
